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Local teens work to help clean up the former Stratford Nursing Home, which has been empty for over 12 years. The facility is being remodeled to host youth aging out of foster care, at-risk women and children, and widows in crisis.
Imagine turning 18 years old with nowhere to call home.
This is a reality for many area teenagers aging out of the foster care system. A local non-profit, faith-based ministry is taking action. The Ninety-Nine + ONE Foundation is remodeling the old Stratford Nursing Home into apartments for youth aging out of foster care, at-risk women and children and widows in crisis.
The building, located off Highway 19, has been empty for over 12 years. It was donated to the Ninety-Nine + ONE Foundation earlier this year and founders plan to close on the property soon.
The renovations will include hotel-style dorms with a microwave, refrigerator, bed, couch and bathroom, computer room, instruction room, kitchen, coffee shop and farmer’s market run by the residents.
Residents will not only receive a safe place to stay, but also social services as needed such as parenting classes, counseling, skilled labor classes, life skills training, driver’s licenses and GED classes.
The facility will have a security system and live-in house parents and interns.
Ninety-Nine + ONE co-founder Gail Priest said progress on completing the building has been slower than she expected, but she hopes to have the building ready by the end of 2022.
“Right now we are working on closing on the property, and we are waiting to turn the water on and check the fire suppression system before we schedule a work day,” Priest said. “We are trusting the Lord as we go through this process, and He has met every need so far.”
Priest said current needs include volunteer skilled laborers and monetary donations.
“At this point, everything either needs to be painted, cleaned or redone,” she said.
Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities,
donations or updates can sign up on the foundation’s website at ninety-9plus1.com.
Clothing and item donations are not being accepted at this time, but Priest said there will be requests for them in the future.
She said she hopes the housing will help stabilize individuals in need.
“Every year, nearly 26,000 teens age out of foster care at 18 years old and are dropped somewhere and expected to thrive,” she said. “These kids, who have no stable home life, are usually three years behind mentally and educationally. They are good kids but just not ready to live on their own yet.”
The topic of aging out of foster care is near to Priest’s heart because she and her husband, Mike, have adopted 16 children out of the foster care system, while also caring for their seven biological children.
“Our mission exists to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ tangibly to the lost and vulnerable by meeting their spiritual, physical and mental needs,” Priest said. “We have already had several teens and a couple widows in the county inquiring about receiving help, so we know this is a need in our area.”
In addition to the housing and services provided through the Aging-In Program, the Ninety-Nine + ONE Foundation works with adoptive families and children facing disrupted adoptions as part of its Hands and Feet Program, supports the Neema Children’s home and school in Kenya through its Reach the World Program, and addresses the needs of at-risk women and children through education customized to the individual’s needs with its Transforming Life Program. The foundation was founded in April 2021.
For more information about the Ninety-Nine + ONE ministries, email info@ninety9plus1.com.